Modern psychiatrists say that one of the basic needs of man is security. In the 91st Psalm we are assured that in God we have the greatest of security, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” If you read and reread this beautiful Psalm, you will discover that in Him we have a permanent abode and residence, and that all of the comfort, security, and affection which the human heart craves is found in Him. Perhaps no visible angels will appear in your life and mine, but God’s promise of security is nonetheless real and certain. Those who live in the realm of God have genuine safety and security.
Prayer for the day: Wherever I go this day, You and Your angels will be with me. Thank you, Lord, for the peace, love, and security You promise.
Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.
Topic: Sensitivity to Divine Timing, Seasons and Signals [Seeds of Destiny 7 January 2019 Devotional]
Scripture: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1
Thought For The Day: People remain on the same spot when they miss their time or seasons of life; God only makes all things beautiful in His time.
It has been confirmed that one demand or requirement for lift in life is sensitivity to Divine timings and seasons. God is not only a God of purpose but also a God of seasons and timing. God has scheduled a shift for your life and destiny and there is a time for it (Ecclesiastes 3:1). People remain on the same spot when they miss their time or seasons in life. God only makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Now, let me give you two key thoughts on sensitivity: i. Destiny is born when purpose marries season. Destiny is delivered as a child when purpose marries season.
ii. Change happens when the right action meets the right timing.
It is important to note that the day of Pentecost did not meet the apostles eating or drinking but praying in the Upper Room in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1) because they understood Divine timing. There are people whose day of Pentecost (or day of visitation) would meet them in lousiness, laziness, lying, cheating, backbiting, feasting etc. When God wants them to be fasting, they are eating.
Daniel understood Divine timing and that understanding made him to pray; hence, his prayer delivered the nation of Israel from captivity (Daniel 9:2).
Beloved, my counsel is, ask God to help you never to miss your Divine timing and season. Take nothing for granted as far as it pertains to Divine agenda for your life.
Remember this: People remain on the same spot when they miss their time or seasons in life; God only makes all things beautiful in His time.
Assignments:
Be sensitive to Divine timing and seasons.
Always be in tune with God in order not to miss your Divine timing and seasons.
Prayer: O Lord, I ask that You help me to be sensitive to Divine timing and seasons of my life, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: COME UP HITHER – SUPERNATURAL LIFTS AND SHIFTS.
Today in History: 07/01/1894-W. K. Dickson received a patent for motion picture film.
Daily Reading: Genesis 16:1 to 18:15, Matthew 6:1 to 24, Psalm 7:1 to 17, Proverbs 2:1 to 5.
Amazing Fact: The world largest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380, has about 4 million parts.
Quote: The power of God is manifested when the word of God and the spirit of God are connected. Culled from GO IN THIS THY MIGHT by Dr. (Pastor) Paul Enenche.
Don’t Forget To Attend: The Healing and Deliverance Service tomorrow by 9: 00 am at the Glory Dome, the Lord’s Garden, Airport Road, Abuja.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Topic: An Ordinary Man [Our Daily Bread 7 January 2019 Devotional]
Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–7, Bible in a Year: Genesis 18–19; Matthew 6:1–18
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
William Carey was a sickly boy, born to a humble family near Northampton, England. His future didn’t look too bright. But God had plans for him. Against all odds, he moved to India, where he brought incredible social reforms and translated the Bible into several Indian languages. He loved God and people, and accomplished many things for God.
David, son of Jesse, was an ordinary young man, the youngest in his family. He was seemingly an insignificant shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:11–12). Yet God saw David’s heart and had a plan for him. King Saul had been rejected by God for disobedience. While the prophet Samuel mourned Saul’s choices, God called Samuel to anoint a different king, one of Jesse’s sons.
When Samuel saw the handsome, tall Eliab, he naturally thought, “surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (v. 6). However, God’s strategy to select a king was much different than Samuel’s. In fact, God said no to each of Jesse’s sons, except the youngest one. Selecting David as king was definitely not a strategic move from God’s part, or so it seemed at first glance. What would a young shepherd have to offer his community, let alone his country?
How comforting to know that the Lord knows our hearts and has His plans for us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You care more about my heart’s attitude toward You than my outward beauty, possessions, or achievements.
God’s priority is your heart.
INSIGHT Samuel, whose name means “heard by God,” was Israel’s last judge as well as a priest and prophet. Samuel was born during the time of the judges at a turning point in Israel’s history. The son of Hannah and Elkanah, Samuel was dedicated to the Lord by his mother. As a little boy, Samuel went to live in the “house of the Lord at Shiloh,” the tabernacle (see 1 Samuel 1:24–28). There he was trained under the guidance of the priest Eli, and there he received a special calling from God (3:1–21). Samuel anointed the first king, Saul (chs. 9–10); and in today’s passage we see him preparing to anoint David, Saul’s replacement (16:1–13). Alyson Kieda
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Lessons from the Fig Tree II
Topic: Lessons from the Fig Tree II (Open Heaven 7 January 2019)
Memorise: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”- Acts 5:3
Read: Luke 13:6-9, Acts 4:36-Acts 5:5 (KJV)
Luke 13:6-9: 6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Acts 4:36-Acts 5:5: 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:5: 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Bible in One Year: Matthew 14-15, Isaiah 5:24-6:7
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
Just as the Lord Jesus Christ cursed the fruitless fig tree in our lesson yesterday, we see a similar scenario playing out in today’s Bible reading. These two examples are indicative of heaven’s standpoint of zero tolerance for fruitlessness. This principle is laid bare by the Master Himself in John 15:2, where He says:
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
Heaven values fruitfulness and would rather preserve and purge a fruitful tree to make it bring forth more fruits. On the other hand, every unfruitful tree stands the risk of being uprooted and done away with.
In continuation of the subject matter studied yesterday, we must never loose sight of the lesson learnt not to lead a fake life. Acts 5:1-5 tells of a man in the early Church who attracted capital punishment to himself by living a pretentious life. One thing we learn from the story of Ananias and Sapphira is that the lie they told was unnecessary. This fact was buttressed by Peter’s question to Ananias in Acts 5:4, saying:
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”
In other words, “Ananias, why should you lie to the Holy Spirit who knows everything? The land belonged to you. If you gave 50% and chose to keep the remaining 50% for your personal use, nobody would query you for doing so.” The problem with Ananias and Sapphira was that they wanted to be recognised to have a virtue they did not actually possess. Prior to their unfortunate act, Joses Barnabas had sold his land, brought the total proceeds and had been commended by the apostles. He was even given a nickname: “The Son of Consolation”. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to receive the same level of commendation but they could not do what Barnabas did, and so they lied to earn it. Romans 12:3 says:
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
You must therefore learn from the fig tree and from Ananias and Sapphira that living a fake life can only earn you a bad reputation, shame and untimely death. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Prayer Point:
Father, please cause me to be fruitful in Jesus’ Name. Please remove vanity from my heart and don’t let me die before my time.
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Hymn 5: Let Others See Jesus In You
1. While passing thro’ this world of sin, and others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within; Let others see Jesus in you.
Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
2. Your life’s a book before their eyes, They’re reading it thro’ and thro’ Say, does it point them to the skis, Do others see Jesus in you?
3. Then live for Christ both day and night, Be faithful, be brave and true, and lead the lost to life and Christ. Let others see Jesus in you.
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional.
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
The actress from the 90s series Sabrina the Teenage Witch and God’s Not Dead 2, discussed how she lives as a Christian on the Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris podcast.
The mother-of-three said after trying to read the book of Revelation as a teenager and not understanding it, she continued “searching”.
“I always had faith in Jesus as my Saviour and that God was out there looking out for me, and was always very faithful in prayer,” she continued.
“I was always trying to read the Bible and trying to figure out how can I learn more.”
She explained how her doubts actually help her to have more faith.
“Without doubt we don’t explore,” Hart explained.
“When I have these big questions like, ‘was Jesus a cool dude?’ Or ‘Was He the son of God?’…’Why would God care about my little life when He has this whole Earth and universe?’ Then I close my eyes and tap into the Holy Spirit and let Him speak to me.
“And you feel that warmth and you feel that change. And all of sudden you can just go off of that blind faith. Of course I believe.”
Dear Melissa Joan Hart, posing the antisemitism you are teaching your children as a question, does not make you any less of an anti-Semite. https://t.co/xG88Z5hmXg
Fast Facts: Church by the Fort launched in 2009, the Sunday before the Fort Hood shooting that killed 13. The church is now comprised of more than 80% active duty military or veterans and has consistently drawn more than 70% previously unchurched attendees since beginning 9 years ago. The church meets in a movie theater where the seats recline (and people do use that feature during the sermon).
They also partner with Iron Horse Disciples Motorcycle Ministry and minister in a local women’s jail conducting Celebrate Recovery and life skills training for transitioning out of the prison. Please pray for the leaders to have energy for ministry and for the ladies to have a positive transition as many simply get out and find themselves right back in the prison.
As you can imagine, due to the military connection, CBTF loses 30-40% of attendees each year due to military moves or job changes. The discipleship and evangelism challenge is higher than normal due to the typical short term nature of the attendees. Because of this, leaders come and go making ministry consistency more difficult. Also, the stress of military life and the absence of soldiers for deployment and training exercises take an enormous toll on the marriages in the congregation. Please pray for the members and for the church as they walk through that journey.
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I signed on Saturday the decree of independence which formalised a split that has been brewing for months.
The Ukrainian church has formally been under the Russian Orthodox Church for centuries.
The Russian Orthodox Church has severed ties with Istanbul and suggested they will no longer attend gatherings by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – the nominal head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Bartholomew I said in his address at the Patriarchal Church of St George in Istanbul: “The pious Ukrainian people have awaited this blessed day for seven entire centuries.”
Epiphanius I of the Orthodox Church of #Ukraine arrives in Istanbul to receive the Tomos or letter of autonomy from the Patriarch of Constantinople. This break from Moscow will enrage #Russia and flare up tensions in orthodox world. pic.twitter.com/mlGGfpqwok
In a sermon on 31st December, Rev Owusu-Bempah made 18 prophecies for the upcoming year, including the death of either Imam Sharabutu or Ghana’s Muslim Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The pastor was reportedly asked by some Muslims to apologise to the Imam but he refused to do so.
As a result, armed with machetes, the group destroyed an organ, windows and chairs in the pastor’s Glorious Word and Power Ministry in Accra on Wednesday.
They even streamed their attack live on Facebook.
Imam Sharabutu has called for calm.
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A letter signed by the Bishop of Croydon, Archbishop of Wales and other leaders from the Anglican, Baptist, Quakers and United Reformed Church stated they were “dismayed by the current debate around immigration”.
It reads: “As representatives of faith communities, we are dismayed by the current debate around immigration.
“The long-awaited Immigration white paper is misguided and disjointed, the promised engagement unclear, and the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination Bill a missed opportunity.”
The home secretary recently appeared to suggest asylum seekers should be deterred from crossing the Channel in small boats by making it harder to gain asylum – despite that being a right enshrined in international law.
Speaking on a visit to Dover, Sajid Javid questioned why a “genuine asylum seeker” making the journey wouldn’t seek asylum in the first safe country they entered.
However, the faith leaders in the letter said “the first reaction to those arriving in boats should not be to disbelieve their stories”.
It went on to suggest: “Urgent action is needed to create a more humane system.
“Refugee families must be kept together, and close family members allowed to join their children in the UK.
“The right to work after six months should be extended to all people seeking asylum.
The ministry said the blast, which occurred late on Saturday in the Egyptian capital, also wounded the commander of the bomb squad.
It came just two days before the Orthodox Coptic Church, the dominant denomination among Egypt’s estimated 10 million Christians, celebrates Christmas.
The incident is likely to force authorities to further tighten security around churches.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group.
IS has targeted Christians in Egypt over the past years, killing more than a hundred of them in attacks on churches and buses carrying pilgrims to remote desert monasteries.
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